A new Beginning

This Blog is about my experiences in the first lecture of subject "Principles of organization and Management"(POM).

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Hey get up its 8 already!!

These were the words of my roomy which woke me up from a dream.

As I got ready, had breakfast, there was only one thing going through my mind: How will be my first day at one of the most prestigious institute of the country? Was I prepared for classroom learning after a limbo of three years?

As I contemplated, thoughts of a tough day haunted me. I wanted to go back to my bed, to my dream.

With this feeling, I entered Syndicate 1 classroom and waited curiously for the professor to come.

Soon entered a professor carrying a handbag. A typical teacher, i thought. But wait, I’ve seen him somewhere.

Oh yes, he’s professor Mandi!! I’ve seen his videos on YouTube. I remember his style, his dialogues, and his slogans(something like socho seekho becho).

Any-ways, professor Mandi soon took off his floaters and introduced himself to the class. I got to know his real name: Professor T.Prasad.

Talking about the teaching style of Professor Mandi, he believes in transferring knowledge by sharing as many experiences as possible rather than using textbook theory. His style differed from others as he explained many Management topics by discussing simple real life situations and experiences. 

In his bag he brought some toys: two cushion balls, two colourful butterflies and a wooden toy.

Are we in the right class, I thought? Soon professor Mandi threw those balls towards us and said ‘Start Playing’!

Within next few seconds, everyone was throwing cushion balls towards each other. And yes, this is when the real session started.

He asked ‘do you know what is the per day cost of your education at NITIE’?

Each student came up with different answers.

Any guesses? 500, 1000, 1500? 

NO.

Approx 2500!

He asked 'what you all are doing to earn this money back'? No one in the class could justify his answer. No one was earning!

He made us realise the importance of earning and gave us a slogan: ‘Aj ki roti aj hi kamana hai’!

This was the first management lesson of the class, the lesson of entrepreneurship.

He also stressed upon the lesson of improving ‘I’ before blaming ‘We’.

Professor Mandi called those who rely on others for money as ‘Beggars’.

I realised he is right. Even after working for three years, I was dependent on my family for funds.

Professor Mandi encouraged us to take our own responsibility and we again pledged:

“Aj Ki Roti Aj Hi Kamana Hai”!

And meanwhile, there were balls flying all over the class!

Next, two students were picked up and they were asked to sell the toy turn by turn to each other.

With this activity we learnt the art of negotiation, the art of Marketing!

Professor Mandi repeatedly stressed upon being self reliant, he stressed that one should not sit ideal. One should excel in what one does. He said "A circle can be defined simply as round shaped object or as the set of all points in a plane that are at a fixed distance from a given point, the centre. Both definitions are correct but former is in layman language while latter is clear and precise. This is how learning should be Clear and Precise."

And this learning should be used for a purpose.One should think, one should learn and one should sell whatever he is good at. He gave us a slogan:

Socho Becho! Becho Seekho! Seekho Socho!

Our first class with Professor Mandi was an unusual experience. He not only taught us Management topics but also inspired us with his wisdom. In short:

“He came; He Taught and He conquered us all”.